Shell with spherical-shaped projectiles, method for the fabrication thereof, and apparatus for the performance

ABSTRACT

Shell with spherical-shaped projectiles, embodying a thin-walled cylindrical sleeve and a cylindrical explosive charge container arranged coaxially therein, and between which there are arranged equal size projectiles. The projectiles bear both against the sleeve as well as also against the explosive charge container. Radial extending bulging portions of the explosive charge container penetrate between the projectiles and by means of which the projectiles are secured against any type of displacement. The method for producing such shell contemplates generating internally of the explosive charge container a pressure, by means of which there are formed the bulging portions which penetrate between the projectiles and which secure the projectiles against displacement. The apparatus for carrying out the method embodies a tool for the explosive charge container and a holder for receiving the sleeve. A pressure-producing mechanism serves to produce a pressure internally of the explosive charge container.

tlnited States Patent Fischer 111 3,829,940 Aug. 20, 1974 [75] Inventor: Pierre Fischer, Geneve, Switzerland [73] Assignee: Werkzevmaschinenfabrik Oerlikon-Buhrle AG, Zurich, Switzerland [22] Filed: June 29, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 267,528

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data July 8, 1971 Switzerland 10021/71 [52] US. Cl. 29/1.2l, 29/122 [51] llnt. Cl B2lk 21/06 [58] Field of Search 29/12, 1.21, 1.22, 1.23

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,251,128 12/1917 Steedman 29/l.2l 1,358,199 11/1920 Hadfield 29/121 X 2,278,325 3/1942 Layton 29/].21 2,411,379 11/1946 Langhammer 29/122 X Primary ExaminerAndrew R. Juhasz Assistant ExaminerLeon Gilden Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Werner W. Kleeman Shell with spherical-shaped projectiles, embodying a thin-walled cylindrical sleeve and a cylindrical explosive charge container arranged coaxially therein, and between which there are arranged equal size projectiles. The projectiles bear both against the sleeve as well as also against the explosive charge container. Radial extending bulging portions of the explosive charge container penetrate between the projectiles and by means of which the projectiles are secured against any type of displacement.

ABSTRACT The method for producing such shell contemplates 3 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures P'A'TENFEDmseo-mu I i 3329.94

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PATENTEDAUE 20 I974 SHEET 2 0f 4 23 Fig.4 24

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- SHELL WITH SPHERICAL-SIIAPEI) PROJECTIILES, METHOD FOR THE FABRICATION THEREOF, AND APPARATUS FOR THE PERFORMANCE BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved shell with spherical-shaped projectiles comprising a thin-walled cylindrical sleeve and an explosive charge container arranged coaxially therein, between which sleeve and container there are arranged the equal size projectiles, these projectiles bearing against both the sleeve and the explosive charge container.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a new and improved construction of shell with spherical-shaped projectiles, an improved method for the fabrication thereof, and equipment for carrying out the aforementioned method.

As far as the shell construction is concerned such is manifested by the features that there are provided bulged or bowed portions at the explosive charge container which radially penetrate between the projectiles, and by means of which bulged portions the projectiles are secured against all displacement.

As already indicated previously this invention is also concerned with a new and improved method for the fabrication of the shell with spherical-shaped projectiles, wherein the explosive charge container is introduced into the sleeve and the projectiles are filled between the explosive charge container and the sleeve.

According to a known technique of this general type the space between the projectiles is filled with a plastic, to thereby prevent any type of movement of the projectiles in the hollow compartment. A drawback of this type prior art shell resides in the fact that these operations are extremely time-consuming and thus the use of the plastic is expensive.

With this in mind a further object of the invention is to provide a shell which is simpler and less expensive to fabricate.

The inventive method is generally manifested by the features that following the introduction of the projectiles a pressure is produced internally of the explosive charge container, to thereby form bulging portions which radially project between the projectiles, and which bulging portions secure the projectiles against any displacement.

A further aspect of the invention relates to apparatus for the performance of the aforementioned method which incorporates a tool for the explosive charge container and a holder for receiving the sleeve member.

This apparatus is manifested by the features that there is provided pressure-producing mechanism for generating a pressure internally of the explosive charge container.

, In order to further fully explain the invention there will be considered in conjunction with the drawings an embodiment of the inventive shell with the sphericalshaped projectiles, a method for fabricating such shell and different embodiments of equipment for carrying out the method.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be better understood and objects other that those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:

FIG. I is a longitudinal sectional view through an embodiment of shell fabricated according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view of the shell depicted in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line II-II thereof;

FIG. 3 is a first embodiment of a tool for an apparatus for fabricating the shell equipped with spherical-shaped projectiles;

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate the apparatus depicted in FIG. 3 for different working phases thereof; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate further embodiments of a tool and apparatus for the performance of the inventive method.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Describing now the drawings, according to the shell construction depicted in FIG. 1 such embodies a ring member 1, the front portion of which is reduced in diameter and possesses a shoulder 2. At the rear portion of the ring member 1 there is provided internal threading 3 and a bore step portion 4. This ring member 1 is inserted into the rear end of a sleeve member 5 fabricated of steel and is conveniently fixedly connected therewith. The outside diameter of the sleeve member 5 and the rear portion of the ring member 1 are the same size. A further ring member 6 is introduced into the front portion of the sleeve member 5 and secured therein. A thin-wall explosive charge container 7 formed of aluminium is centered at both ring members 1 and 6, the inner diameters of which are the same size. The substantially cylindrical jacket-shaped compartment 8 bounded by the sleeve member 5, the explosive charge container 7 and the ring members 1 and 6 is completely filled with spherical-shaped projectiles 9 of the same size which form fragments. These projectiles 9 form a ring-shaped layer, the radial depth of which corresponds to the ball or sphere diameter of such projectiles.

Now the explosive charge container 7 is provided with bulged or bowed portions 10 which penetrate into the space between the projectiles 9, as best seen by referring to FIG. 2. The projectiles 9 bear against such bulging or bulged portions 10 of the explosive charge container 7 and at the inner wall of the sleeve member 5. Owing to penetration of the bulged portions 10 between the projectiles 9 the explosive charge container 7 is retained against displacement in axial, radial and tangential direction. A disk 11 is threaded from the rear into the ring member I up to the location of the bore shoulder or stepped portion 4 and closes the interior of the explosive charge container 7 towards the rear. The explosive charge container 7 is filled with an explosive 12. This explosive or explosive charge 12 penetrates into the bulging or bulged portions 10 of the explosive charge container 7 and thus adheres, also during the acceleration prevailing during firing of the shell with the spherical-shaped projectiles and during rotational acceleration thereof about its axis. at the explosive charge container wall.

With the foregoing background in mind, there will now be considered the method aspects for the fabrication of such shell with spherical-shaped projectiles. To

that end the explosive charge container 7 is firstly inserted into the sleeve member 5, secondly the projectiles 9 are filled into the compartment between the sleeve member 5 and the explosive charge container 7, and thirdly a pressure is produced internally of the explosive charge container 7 so that there are formed the bulged or bulging portions which penetrate radially between the projectiles 9 and which thus secure such projectiles against any type of displacement.

According to a particular aspect of the method of this development the explosive charge container 7, prior to its deformation, is filled with pressed or compacted parts 13 of explosive charge material. Thereafter, a pressure is exerted upon the pressed parts 13 which, in turn, produces the bulged portions 10 of the explosive charge container 7. By virtue of this pressure the pressed parts 13 are simultaneously compressed to the required density.

The equipment for carrying out the aforementioned method advantageously contains a pressure-generating mechanism or means for forming the pressure internally of the explosive charge container, a holder or support for housing the sleeve member and a tool for the explosive charge container.

A first embodiment of inventive apparatus, for example as shown in FIG. 6, contains a press with two punches l4 and 15 between which there is clamped a tool 16 at its end faces or surfaces 17 and 18 and which tool 16 carries the explosive charge container 7. Furthermore, this embodiment of apparatus incorporates a tubular-shaped holder or support 19 equipped with a flange, this holder 19 being retained by any suitable and therefore schematically illustrated mechanism 20 in an upright position upon the table 21 of a vibrator. The sleeve member 5 with the ring members 1 and 6 according to the embodiment of FIG. 1 is arranged and guided at the holder 19. The ring member 1 is supported at its bottom upon a stepped bore portion or shoulder 22 of the holder 19. A ring-shaped retaining screw 23 is threaded from the front into the holder 19 and bears against the upper end face 24 of the sleeve member 5. As a result the sleeve member 5 is held in contact with the ring member 1.

Additionally, this embodiment of apparatus incorporates the tool 16 shown in greater detail in FIG. 3. This tool consists of a piston 25 with a front portion 26 which is reduced or stepped in diameter and bounded by a shoulder 27. The piston 25 possesses a continuous bore 28 which rearwardly of a shoulder 29 extending perpendicular to the lengthwise axis of the tool has a greater diameter than at the front thereof. A rod 30 is guided at the front portion of the bore 28 and extends towards the front. A second piston member 31 is threaded upon the front end of the rod 30. The head of the piston 31 has a truncated-cone shape, the cone surface 32 being connected through the agency of rounded portions 33 both with the end face 18 extending transverse to the lengthwise axis and also with the cylindrical surface of the piston 31.

Ring members or rings 37 formed of a rubber elastic or elastomeric material are arranged between the oppositely situated end surfaces 35 and 36 of both pistons 25 and 31. These ring members 37 are seated with radial pre-stress upon the rod 30 and possess an external diameter which is only inconsequently smaller than that of the piston 31 and the front portion of the piston 25. A thin disk or spacer 38, for instance formed of steel and slightly lubricated is inserted between each two ring members 37. The ring members 37 bear against one another and the entire set or package of ring members 37 is retained in contact with the pistons 25 and 31 by means of a screw 39 which can be rotated at the rear end of the rod 30 and which bears via a ring or washer 40 at the bore shoulder 29.

The mode of operation of the apparatus and the tool considered in conjunction with the showing of FIG. 3 is as follows:

An explosive charge container 7 is pushed over the tool 16 until its rear end face bears against the piston shoulder 27 and the rear portion of the piston 31 is guided in the explosive charge container 7. The tool 16 and the explosive charge container 7 are thereafter inserted from below into the holder 19 until the explosive charge container 7 is guided at the front portion of the ring member 1. Now projectiles 9 are filled from the top into the sleeve member 5 closed at its bottom by the piston 31 and the ring member 1, as best seen by referring to FIG. 4. Thereafter, the vibrator is placed into operation and the tool 16 with the explosive charge container 7 is moved slowly upwards. As a result the pile of projectiles 9 slide away from the tip of the piston 31 into the hollow compartment 8 forming between the explosive charge container 7 and the sleeve member 5, the radial depth of such hollow compartment being somewhat greater than the diameter of the spherical-shaped projectiles 9. The projectiles 9, owing to the jarring force produced by the vibrator distribute uniformly in the form of a really compact package within the hollow compartment 8, as best seen by referring to FIG. 5. When the shoulder 27 of the piston 25 abuts against the ring member 1, as shown in FIG. 6, and the tool 16 with the explosive charge container 7 comes to standstill, then the vibrator is shutdown. Now the tool 16 is supported by the punch 14 of the press and is loaded from the top by a force exerted upon the punch 15. The rings 37 are thus elastically compressed together in axial direction and radially expanded so that they exert radially directed forces upon the explosive charge container 7. The slightly lubricated steel disks 38 arranged between the rings 37 ensure that the transverse elongation of the rings 37 is not hindered by frictional forces. The explosive charge container 7 is pressed by these radial forces towards the outside against the projectiles 9 and into the spaces disposed therebetween. The explosive charge container 7 is now secured against any displacement in axial, radial and tangential direction. After relieving the load exerted by the compressive force and eliminating the axial and radial deformation of the rings 37 the tool 16 can be pulled-out of the shell jacket formed by the ring members 1 and 6, the sleeve member 5, the projectiles 9 and the explosive charge container 7. After threading out the retaining screw 39 the shell jacket is ejected out of the holder 19.

Now with the subsequently described exemplary embodiments of apparatus depicted in FIGS. 7 and 8 the same components have been designated with the same reference characters, whereas components which differ in shape in the embodiments in FIGS. 7 and 8 have applied thereto a further prime or double prime marking, and finally additional components have applied thereto a new reference character.

Now a second embodiment of apparatus has been depicted in FIG. 7 and embodies a tool 16, wherein the elastically deformable rings 37 of FIGS. 3 to 6 are replaced by pressed or molded parts 13 formed of explosive charge material 12. The pressed parts 13 are pushed onto a rod 30' connected with the piston 25. A piston-3l is displaceably arranged upon the rod 30' in front of the pressed parts 13. In this case the holder 19' must bear with a relatively small tolerance against the sleeve member 5 in order to prevent damage thereof, since simultaneous with the deformation of the explosive charge container 7 the explosive charge material is compressed such that it has imparted thereto its optimum effectiveness. To this end there is necessary a greater compressive force than for the deformation of the explosive charge container. Owing to the compressive forces exerted by the press punches l4, the pressed parts 113 are plastically deformed, so that they exert radial forces upon the explosive charge container 7 which, in the manner already described, deform such and then adhere as the explosive charge at its inner wall.

According to a third embodiment of the apparatus as depicted in FIG. 8 a pressurized fluid medium e.g. oil is employed for deformation of the explosive charge container 7. A piston is fixedly connected by a rod with a piston 31". The closed cover 41 of the pis ton 25" possesses a bore 42, the lower end of which is connected to an oil conduit 43. The front portion of the piston 25" and the piston 31" possess peripheral grooves 44 in which there are arranged sealing O-rings 45,46. If during the fabrication of a shell jacket the tool 16 with the explosive charge container 7 has assumed its uppermost position and remains stationary (FIG. 8), then pressurized oil 48 is delivered through the bore 42 from a pump 47 into the compartment bounded by the end faces 35", 36 of the pistons 25",

31" and the explosive charge container 7. The explosive charge container 7 is deformed by the pressure exerted by the oil.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practised within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A method for fabricating a shell having a substantially thin-wall cylindrical sleeve, a substantially cylindrical explosive charge container arranged coaxially therein and substantially shperical-shaped projectiles located between said sleeve and said explosive charge container, comprising the steps of inserting the explosive charge container into the sleeve so as to form a compartment between the sleeve and the explosive charge container while filling the projectiles into the compartment between the sleeve and the explosive charge container, generating a pressure internally of the explosive charge container so as to form bulged portions which penetrate between the projectiles and which bulged portions secure the projectiles against any type of displacement.

2. The method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of filling the explosive charge container with pressed parts formed of explosive charge material, and for producing the bulged portions at the explosive charge container a pressure is exerted upon the pressed parts.

3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said pressure serving for producing the bulged portions simultaneously compresses together the explosive charge material to the required density. 

1. A method for fabricating a shell having a substantially thinwall cylindrical sleeve, a substantially cylindrical explosive charge container arranged coaxially therein and substantially shperical-shaped projectiles located between said sleeve and said explosive charge container, comprising the steps of inserting the explosive charge container into the sleeve so as to form a compartment between the sleeve and the explosive charge container while filling the projectiles into the compartment between the sleeve and the explosive charge container, generating a pressure internally of the explosive charge container so as to form bulged portions which penetrate between the projectiles and which bulged portions secure the projectiles against any type of displacement.
 2. The method as defined in claim 1, further including the step of filling the explosive charge container with pressed parts formed of explosive charge material, and for producing the bulged portions at the explosive charge container a pressure is exerted upon the pressed parts.
 3. The method as defined in claim 2, wherein said pressure serving for producing the bulged portions simultaneously compresses together the explosive charge material to the required density. 